About Us.
Empowering Sustainable Travel in Leeds
Resources, Opportunities, and Community Action
Travel Well Leeds was created by the Climate Action Leeds Transport Partners, working for TIDAL. It was designed in response to a need for an online information hub for all things sustainable transport.
The aim is to support communities in Leeds to become less car dependent, with access to safe, affordable active travel and public transport options.
On our Resources pages you will find a directory of opportunities that already exist in Leeds, for everything from cycle confidence sessions for adults, to free workshops for schools on green travel. There are resources for different groups, including employers, neighbourhood groups, schools and visitors to the city.
Of course, information isn’t all that’s needed to make greener travel choices. For many of us the options for getting around are too expensive, unreliable, not safe or not accessible. Sometimes all of the above! That’s why this website also shares information about campaign groups and community organising groups, to help you connect with like minded people who also want to make a change. On our Participate page you will also find information about live consultations – where you can have your say on proposals from the Leeds and West Yorkshire authorities.
Transforming Leeds
Reducing Carbon Emissions Through Sustainable Transport
The transport sector is responsible for up to 40% of carbon emissions in Leeds. Having once been dubbed ‘The motorway city of the 70s’, Leeds faces huge challenges in changing the way we travel. Thankfully in recent years, decision makers have expressed a commitment to this change. For example, Leeds City Council’s ‘Connecting Leeds Transport Strategy’ (2020) outlines how as a city we must “reduce the need to travel, reduce our reliance on private cars and increase travel by active modes and public transport.” As well as reducing CO2 emissions, these shifts would make our air healthier to breathe, and make more space for communities and nature to thrive.
Of course, a lot of the necessary changes must take place in the realm of central government policy and funding, as well as local authority action. Fortunately, there is also much that can be done on a household or community level to move towards a less car dependent city. We hope that by bringing together a directory of resources that already exists to support individuals, workplaces, schools, communities and visitors to Leeds we can help in the transition towards accessing healthier and lower carbon modes of transport in and around the city.
Climate Action Leeds
Advancing a Just Transition in Transport and Community Collaboration
Climate Action Leeds is a partnership programme established in 2020, which works with a range of community partners towards a zero carbon, nature friendly and socially just Leeds. The programme is funded by the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund. You can read more about the excellent work taking place across the partnership by visiting www.climateactionleeds.org.
Throughout the programme the Transport Just Transition Partners Naomi and Jane worked with a range of stakeholders to progress towards shared goals. One priority was showcasing and supporting the work of local communities and neighbourhood hubs. Collaborations included running the Clean Air Cafe – an educational family event with Little London Community Centre, and collaborating with climate action charity Possible on the ‘Car Free Visions of Leeds’ project, working alongside Beeston residents to reimagine their local streets. More recently they supported the delivery of a ward wide walk to school week initiative in Alwoodley.
The second priority was contributing to debates on transport policy and practice in Leeds, always bringing a focus on the social as well as environmental impacts of transport initiatives. The Transition Partners have engaged with city stakeholders including Leeds City Council, businesses and campaign groups – periodically hosting events to bring stakeholders together and promote collaboration across the sector. This website is a continuation of that work.